Razor with skin stretching means



Oct. 16, 1956 e. BENVENUT] RAZOR WITH SKIN STRETCHING MEANS Filed April28, 1953 Fig.1

2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Oct; 16, 1956 e. BENVENUTI RAZOR WITH sxm STRETCHINGMEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1953 Arr United States PatentRAZOR WITH SKIN STRETCHIN G MEANS Giulio Benvenuti, Florence, ItalyApplication April 28, 1953, Serial No. 351,720

Claims priority, application Italy August 28, 1952 16 Claims. (CI.30-34) The present invention relates to a novel razor provided with skinstretching means.

In the shaving by a safety razor hitherto effected with the usualblade-carriers, the heard is cut by pushing the blade against thesurface of the skin. However, the beard, owing to the necessarilyremarkable stress, is bent by the blade and the shaving is effectedaslant, as a quill, with a cross-section larger than the normal one andnot at the base of the hair or beard; owing to this fact it is necessaryto effect a successive passing of the blade in the reverse direction toremove the beard residue.

The present invention relates to a device which provide an easier shavein a simple way and with an easy actuation from the industrialviewpoint.

According to the invention, the device designed to stretch the skin atthat instant when the shaving edge exerts its action against the beardis made up of a series of rollers or similar memberssuch as ringsorlaminaswhich lie or rest on the skin along narrow elongated surfaces,said rollers or similar members being arranged on the two sides of ablade if the latter has a double cutting edge, or on one side if theblade has a single cutting edge; however, a series of rollers or thelike is provided for each cutting or shaving edge, so as to form a restand guide for the safety razor when said shaving edge is working.

The rollersor similar members-01? a series are aligned, in relation tothe shaving edge, on the opposite side of the blade-cover, i. e., belowthe blade, and each roller has an orientation, appropriately differentfrom all other rollers, for example like a fan, so as to stretch ordistend the skin during the sliding of the razor on the skin.

A guide to determine a displacement of the razor in the directioninclined relative to the shaving edge, rather than perpendicularthereto, is obtained by orienting the middle geometrical plane of thefan made up by the rollers or similar elements, which is inclinedrelative to the shaving edge rather than being perpendicular thereto, orhowever in such a way that its straight geometrical intersection withthe cutting geometrical plane is inclined relative to the cutting edge;the action makes shaving easier.

Therefore it is possible to attain the aim of shaving the beard withsuch an inclination of the blade edge in relation to the razor traveldirection so as to make a slight cutting pressure sufficient to cut thebeard along a cross-section smaller than the usual one; this is obtainedby the eifect of the presence of the stretching rollers on the skin orother similar members, arranged and oriented in an appropriate way, tostretch the skin and aid the shaving and force the razor to follow atrajectory relative to which the blade edge is inclined; also the aim isattained owing to the presence of grooves, appropriately arranged on therazor upper face.

The accompanying drawings show the diagrammtical or rings and someembodiments of the invention.

2,766,521 Patented Oct. 16, 1956 In said drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are a view and a section along the line II-II of Fig. 1 ofa safety razor according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the razor with some members, partially broken;

Fig. 4 is a similar embodiment of Fig. 3 with a variation in thearrangement of the rollers;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of Fig. 1 of a razor actuated according toanother embodiment;

Figs. 6 and 7 show a partial top view of the embodiment of Fig. 5similar to Figs. 3 and 4, and a variation of it respectively;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are three examples of the assembly systems of therollers;

Fig. 11 is a cross-section along the line XI-XI of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is another example of the assembly system of the rollers;

Fig. 13 is another embodiment where instead of the rollers, flexiblestationary rings are used;

Fig. 14 is a partial top view of an element provided with flexiblerings, according to the embodiment of Fig. 13;

Figs. 15 and 16 are a perspective and top view of a safety razoraccording to a further embodiment, provided with a special handle.

In accordance with Figs. 1, 2 and 5, 1 denotes the razor handle, 2denotes the block or plate which houses the blade 3, 4 denotes theblade-stop, which is secured to the unit 1-2 in any suitable way. Theillustrated razor is given as an example, but may be made up in anyother suitable way.

The razor handle 1 carries some shoulders (see Fig. 2) provided withgrooves 10 for the fingers, so as to define the exact position of use ofthe razor in relation to the orientation of the rollers or similarelements.

The rollers 5, grouped in two series, which are arranged along the twoshaving edges 3a--3a of the blade 3, are connected to the block 2, inaccordance with the invention.

In the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4 the planes in which the rollers 5 lieare all normal to the plane containing the two shaving edges 3a of theblade 3 (plane of the drawing) or however to the shaving plane; theinclinations of said planes, relative to each shaving edge of the blade,vary from one roller to the other; the plane of the central roller is,in the first case, perpendicular to the shaving edge and in the secondcase inclined. The planes diverge from the outside towards the shavingedge.

In both cases, while the shaving edge 30 is displaced, during theshaving action, parallel to itself in the direction of the arrow 6, therollers 5, arranged on divergent planes, by biting the skin when rollingthereon and while simultaneously sliding on the side thereon, produce anouter transversal displacement of the skin; the whole result is such asto stretch the skin in the direction of the arrow 6'6" in the entirezone of the skin covered by the series of the rollers, during theshaving action.

In order to increase this stretching effect, it is possible to rotatethe planes on which the rollers lie, only in relation to the two shavingedges (Figs. 3 and 4) but also in relation to the plane containing saidshaving edges (Figs. 5, 6 and 7), for example by the same quantity ofwhich they have been rotated relative to the same edges, and in such aWay that the intersections of said planes may be in the zone under theblades 3 and that is, on the side of the razor handle 1.

The single rollers 5a of Fig. 8 have a central truncated oone aperture,the smaller base of which has a diameter such as to allow the passage ofa cylindrical shaft 7 parallel to the shaving edge of the blade andrelative to which each roller may also assume the two abovementionedinclinations; the aperture of each cone may be appropriately ditferentfor every roller in relation to the inclination or the twoabovementioned inclinations, preferably in such a way that during therotation each roller lies on the common shaft along a generating line ofthe conical surface of the aperture. Said rollers are kept in thepredetermined position by a suitably shaped rack 8, of which eachhousing has the inclination provided for each single roller.

In accordance with the embodiment of Figs. 10 and l i, particularlydesigned for the case wherein the double inclination is required,suitably inclined lugs 9 are provided on the edge of the support 2 andeach lug has a pin 10, moreeconomically derived from the some log, onwhich pin said roller 51; pivots. After having riveted the pins 10 tohold the rollers 5b thereon, each lug 9 is appropriately rotated in sucha way that the relative roller 5b may assume the assigned inclination.

In accordance with Fig. 9, the pin 11, arising from the lug 12, is notriveted, since the roller 50 is held on the pin of the successive lugback against which the roller preferably lies with a convex projection.

The embodiment :of Fig. 12 provides that each roller 51!, rather thanrotating on a pin, rotates on two points 3 derived therefrom, the lugs14 carrying corresponding roller may assume the determined position. Thearrangement could be reversed, in that the rollers could have therecesses and the lugs 14 have the points. Similarly it may be intendedfor the resolutions of Figs. 9 and 10.

Without altering the relative inclinations of the rollers indicated inthe arrangements of Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7, the respective supports may beprovided in such a way as to deflect-- owing to the resistance of theskin to the distension dur the action of the rollers, obviously in twoopposite directions, parallel to the blade shaving edges, or howeverlying on a plane normal, or nearly normal, to the axis of the razorhandle.

The arrangement could be modified, always with the aim of obtaining thestretching of the skin, by replacing the rollers by other elements suchas thin extensions or projections of the supports, and it would bebetter if said supports are flexible, as previously indicated. Forexample, the two series of rollers can be replaced by two series ofsmall lamina's or preferably by flexible rings 15 as in Fig. l3, ofwhich one edge is incident on the skin and which are engaged to thesupport 3; the arrangements of said rings and the inclinations of theirplanes being similar to those already indicated for the rollers.

it is obvious that the series of rollers, or laminas, or rings, in thespecified arrangements, can be applied to any safety razor provided witha double shaving edge blade or with a single shaving edge blade,obtaining a higher efficiency in tl e shaving, either for the tensionconferred to the skin through the action of the rollers or lam'inas, oralso elastic rings, or by the eventual trajectory inclined relative tothe blade edge owing to the general orientation of the rollers, l nas,or resilient rings; this owing to the fact that the bl edge is forced tofollow a trajectory relative to which the edge is inclined. 7

in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, the razor includes twocovers or lids 16-17 forming the handle of the razor, said lids beingcoupled through the screws 13 Wh. it secure said lids l617 to an innerbox including a deVlCC for the opening and closing of the blade-cover. Ablade-cover or guard 19 is pivoted at one end on a pin 2% so that it canbe raised and pushed against the blade, not indicated in the drawing;said bladeguard has a Series of inclined grooves 19a. The bladeguard iscontrolled by toggle lever members, contained in the box closed by thetwo covers 161"/'. The displacing device for the blade-cover or guard 19is controlled by a lug 21 emerging out of an appropriate slot 22, whichis formed by the coupling of the lids 16l7; a button 23 helps theoperation. The blade-guard is stressed into the closed position by aspring, so that the blade is locked in the right position.

Each lid 16-)17 has some indentations capable of housing the rollers 24mounted in one of the previously described ways and oriented so as tooperate the distension of the skin, as previously describe It is to beintended that the drawing only shows some po sible embodiments of theinvention, which may be v' ed in their forms and arrangements. Forexample, in the usual case of two shaving or cutting edges it ispossible to provide a series of rollers or similar elements on the razoraccording to one of the arrangements of 3 or 6, and a series of rollersor the like according to one of the arrangements of Figs. 4 or 7, orother similar combinations.

What I claim is:

l. in a razor, in combination with a blade having an elongated edge forshaving the skin of a user of said razor, and blade supporting meanscomprising guide means adapted for engagement with the skin formaintaining said blade in a desired predetermined relationship withrespect to the skin, the provision of means included in said guide meansand defining a plurality of spaced elongated guide surfaces adapted topress against the skin, said guide surfaces being directed generallytransversely with respect to said blade edge, said guide surfaces eachbeing directed at a ditferent angle with respect to said blade edge anddiverging toward said edge, said divergence, when said guide surfacesare pressed against the skin, causing the skin to be progressively andsubstantially uniformly stretched between adjacent guide surfaces priorto engagement with said blade edge as said razor is moved over the skin.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in which the directions ofelongation of said guide surfaces lie in planes which intersectsubstantially in a common line.

3. The combination according to claim 2, in which said line ofintersection lies between two planes each normal to said blade edge andpassing through one end thereof.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said guide meanscomprises a series of aligned spaced rollers each freely rotatable aboutan axis having a different angle of orientation with respect to saidblade edge, each roller having a relatively narrow peripheral portionadapted for engagement with the skin, said guide surfaces being definedby said peripheral portions of said rollers.

5. The combination according to claim 4, in which said peripheralportions of said rollers have rough surfaces for enhancing saidstretching action.

6. The combination according to claim 4, in which said rollers are soarranged that a series of planes, each plane being normal to the axis ofrotation of one of said rollers and passing through the center thereof,will intersect substantially in a common line.

7. The combination according to claim 6, in which said line ofintersection lies between two planes, each normal to said blade edge andpassing through one end of said edge.

8. The combination according to claim 4, in which said rollers are soarranged that their rotational axes are coplanar and all lie in a planesubstantially parallel to said edge of said blade.

9. The combination according to claim 4, in which said guide meanscomprises a member having a series of spaced slots formed therein, eachof said slots having a different angle of orientation with respect tosaid blade edge, said combination further comprising a common shaftextending through said slots and upon which said rollers are rotatablymounted, each roller being disposed in and guided by the sides of one ofsaid slots.

10. The combination according to claim 9, in which each of said rollershas a central aperture of frustoconical configuration formed thereinthrough which said common shaft passes, the conical angle of eachaperture being so selected with respect to the angle of orientation ofeach slot that line contact is obtained between said shaft and agenerating element of said cone at the internal surface of eachaperture.

11. The combination according to claim 4, in which said guide meanscomprises a member having a series of spaced slots formed therein, eachof said slots having a different angle of orientation with respect tosaid blade edge, each slot having a roller disposed therein and guidedby the lateral walls thereof, each of the walls of said slots having aprojection formed thereon and each of said rollers having a centralrecess formed therein whereby said roller is freely revolubly supportedin said slot by said projection.

12. The combination according to claim 11, in which the rotational axesdefined by said projections and recesses are coplanar and all of saidaxes lie in a plane substantially parallel to said edge of said blade.

13. The combination according to claim 4, in which said guide meanscomprises a member having a series of spaced slots formed therein, eachof said slots having a different angle of orientation with respect tosaid blade edge, each slot having a roller disposed therein, and a pairof conical bearings freely revolubly journaling each of said rollers inone of said slots.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the rotational axesdefined by said conical bearings are coplanar and all lie in a planesubstantially parallel to said edge of said blade.

15. The combination according to claim 1, in which said guide meanscomprises a plurality of rings, said guide surfaces being defined byperipheral portions of said rings.

16. The combination according to claim 15, in which said portions ofsaid rings defining said guide surfaces are resiliently displaceablewith respect to said razor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,602,613 Hofiman Oct. 12, 1926 1,624,707 Alland Apr. 12, 1927 1,651,917Connolly Dec. 6, 1927 1,701,036 Greene Feb. 5, 1929 1,833,079 HoltzmanNov. 24, 1931 1,833,242 Connolly Nov. 24, 1931 2,098,036 Gore Nov. 2,1937 2,370,815 Ross Mar. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,355 Great BritainDec. 6, 1909 of 1908

